Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-12-14

LOT Cne surplus III the treasury. LIE
success Of this plan, it is apparent,
must depend upon the volition of
the holders of the present bonds, and
it is not entirely certain that the
inducement which must be offered
would result in more financial bene-
fit to the government than the pur-
chase of bonds, while the latter
proposition would reduce the princi-
pal of the debt by actual payment
instead of extending it. The propo-
sition to deposit the money held by
the government in bonds throughout
the country for use by the people is,
it seems to me, exceedingly objection
able in principle as establishing so
close a relationship between the
government treasury and the busi-
ness of the country, and too exten-
sive collection of their money, thus
fostering an unnatural reliance in
private business upon public funds.
If this scheme should be adopted it
should only be done as temporary
expedient to meet an urgent necessi-
ty. Legislative and executive effort
should generally be in the opposite
direction, and should have tendency
to divorce as much and as fast as can
safely be done the treasury depart
ment from private enterprise.
OF course it is not expected that un-
necessary and extravagant appropri-
ations will be made for the purpose
of avoiding the accumulating of an
excess of revenues. Such expendi-
ture, besides the decentralization ofall
just conceptions of public duty which
it entails, stimulate habit of reck-
less improvidence not in the least
consistent with the mission Of our
people, or the high and beneficent
principles of our government. l
have deemed it my duty to thus
bring to the knowledge of my c0un-
trymen as well as to the attention
of their representatives charged
with the responsibility of legislative
relief, the gravity Of our financial
situation. The failure of the Congress
heretofore to provide against the dan
gers, which it was quite evident the
very nature of the difficulty must
have necessarily produced, caused a
condition of financial distress and
apprehension since your last adjourn
ment, which taxed to the utmost, all
the authority and expedients with
in executive control, and these now
appear to be exhausted.
If disaster results from the cOntin-
ued inaction Of Congress, the respon-
sibility must rest where it belongs.
Though the situation thus far consid-
cred, is fraught with danger, which
should be fully realized, and though
it presents features, which portend
wrong to- the people as we'll as peril
to the country, it is buta result grow
ing out ola perfectly palpable and ap-
parent cause, constantly representing
the same alarming circumstances.
Our scheme of taxation by means OF
which this needless surplus is taken
from the people and put into the pub
lie treasury, consists of tariff or du-
ty levied upon importations from
abroad and internal revenue taxes
levied upon the consumption of to-
bacco, spirits and malt liquors. 1t
must be conceded that none of the
things subjectto to internal revenue tax
alton are, strictly speaking, necessa-
ries. Thereappears to be no just COM
plant of this tariff by the consumers
of these articles, and there seems
10 be nothing so we'll able to bear the
burden without hardship to any por-
tion of the people. But our present
tariff laws, the vicious, inequitable
and illogical source of unnecessary
taxation ought to be at once removed
and amended.
1t is not proposed to entirely re-
lieve the country of this taxation.
1t must be extensively continued as
a source of the governments income,
and in a readjustment of our tariff the
interests of American labor, engaged
in manufacture, should be carefully
considered, as well as the protection
of our manufactures. 1t may be
called protection, or by any other
name, but relief from the hardships
and dangers of our present tariff laws
should be devised with reference to
providing nstimperiling the ex-
istence of our manufacturing inter-
ests.
The reduction of taxation demand
ed should be so measured as not to
necessitate, or justify, either the loss
of employment by the workingman,
nor the lessening of his wages, and
the profits still remaining to the
manufacturer after a necessary read
justment should furnish no excuse for
the sacrifice of the interests of his
employees, either in their opportuni-
ty to work or in the dminution
OF their compensation. Nor can the
workers in manufactures fail to un-
derstand that while d high tariff is
claimed to be necessary to allow the
payment of remuneratiYe wages, it
certainly results in very large in
crease in the price of nearly all sorts
of manufactures, which, in almost
countless forms, he needs for the use
of fhimselfand family. He receives at
the desk of his employer his. wages,
and perhaps before he reaches his
home is obliged, in the purchase OF
an article for family use, of an article
which embraces his own labor, to re-
turn in the payment Of the increase
in price which the tariff permits the
hard earned compensation of many
days Of toll.
The farmer and the agriculturist
who manufacture nothing, but who
pay the increased price which the
tariff imposes upon every agricultu-
raj implement, upon all he wears and
upon all he uses and owns, except the
increase of his flocks and herds and
such thingsas his husbandry produces
from the soil, is invited to aid in
maintaining the government, and ne
is told that a high duty on imported
wool is necessary for the benefit OF
those who have sheep to shear in
order that the price of their wool
may be increased. They, Of course,
are not reminded that the farmer
who has no sheep is by this scheme
obliged, in his purchases of clothing
and wOolen goods, to pay a tribute to
his fellow farmer as well as to the
manufacturer and merchant. Nor is
any mention made of the fact that
sheep owners themselves must wear
clothing and use other articles man
ufactured from the wool they sell at
tariff rates, and thus consumers,
as well, return a share of this in
creased price to the tradesman.
DisruSsinp the increased cost to